Give to the Salvos

We are the lucky country.

But our luck and good lifestyle comes at the expense of, or is in stark contrast to those less well off; those who are disadvantaged.

It’s Christmas and our thoughts turn to those who won’t have a very merry Christmas.

I was reading the back of a Christmas card sent to me.

The purchase of the card provided a donation to the Salvation Army.

I was staggered to read:

The Salvation Army helps more than one million disadvantaged Australians each year without discrimination; this includes people who are hungry, homeless, abandoned or abused; that's one person helped every 30 seconds.

One million people (out of a population of 23 million) need help from the Salvos each year. In NZ, the Salvos help 120,000 people.

Each week in Australia the Salvos provide:

·         100,000 meals for the hungry

·         2,000 beds for the homeless

·         5,000 to 8,000 food vouchers

·         1,000 people with assistance in finding employment

·         Refuge to 500 victims of abuse

·         Assistance to 500 people addicted to drugs, alcohol or gambling

·         Several thousand people with counselling

·         3,000 elderly people with aged care services

·         Family tracing services which locate 40 missing family members

·         1,000 people in the court system with chaplaincy services

Other services provided:

·         Family welfare assistance

·         Refuge for women & children in crisis

·         Homeless shelters

·         Youth drop-in centres and support programs

·         Emergency and disaster relief

·         Drug and alcohol rehabilitation

·         Counselling

·         Family Tracing

·         Bereaved by Suicide support

·         Aged care

·         Intellectual disability programs

·         Employment services and training programs

·         Rural and outback chaplains

·         Court & prison chaplains

·         Chaplains to emergency service personnel

·         Holiday camps for disadvantaged children

·         Youth recreation centres and quality child care centres in high-need areas

·         Counselling and support for children with special needs.

This Christmas, consider a gift of money to the Salvation Army.

It really is the best Aussie charity to make the most impact for those in need.

http://salvos.org.au/donate/how-your-donation-helps/